Former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman announced Wednesday he would not run for president, after months of speculation about whether he would join the race.

He said in a statement Wednesday evening that he was unable to overcome the constraints associated with a candidacy's administrative, organizational and financial requirements.

"I apologize for not meeting your call perhaps for the first time in my life," he added.

Suleiman, who was appointed vice president by Mubarak during the 18-day uprising against his rule, said in the statement reported by state-run news agency MENA that he "is proud of the confidence his supporters put in him, wishing the homeland to progress on its way toward the future." 

He added: "I turn to you with great thanks and sincere gratitude for all the good feelings that surrounded me in recent months by those who were calling on me to run for president."

He said he would continue being "a faithful soldier to the precious soil of Egypt in all circumstances, present and future."

Presidential candidates are required to collect at least 30 signatures from members of Parliament or 30,000 notarized signatures from citizens in 15 different governorates to officially join the race. Candidate registration began on 10 March and ends Sunday.

Suleiman served as the head of the General Intelligence Services from 1993 until 29 January 2011, when Mubarak appointed him as vice president in response to massive protests. It was Suleiman who read out Mubarak's resignation on 11 February 2011.